ANC must clarify where they stand on corruption – Herman Mashaba

Following the arrest of African National Congress (ANC) Ward Councillor, Mr Leepile Motsumi, yesterday, I take note of the ANC press statement which quickly followed.

A number of questions arise from the statement.

Firstly, if the ANC’s Integrity Committee met on 26 September 2017 and decided to remove the Councillor, why was this decision only communicated yesterday?

It seems that the disclosure of the ANC’s decision has more to do with political expediency than the moral tones laden in the statement.

This matter was brought to my attention in April 2017, after which a full criminal and forensic investigation was commissioned.

The City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) Department worked closely with law enforcement and the NPA to ensure that action was taken. The alleged criminal acts on the part of the Councillor took place between December 2016 and January 2017.

This makes it difficult to believe that the timing of the ANC’s decision to remove the Councillor has nothing to do with anything other than the imminent arrest.

Special note is also taken of the commitment in the ANC’s statement for similar actions to be taken against any other Councillor found guilty of misconduct.

As with all matters of corruption, the ANC’s commitment rings hollow.

During the campaign their defence against corruption was “what corruption?”.

Now we sit with over 2000 cases under investigation involving close to R15 Billion. I therefore challenge the ANC in Johannesburg to back up their moral claims to:

1. Institute similar disciplinary proceedings against ANC Councillors who have been referred to the Ethics Committee for alleged criminal wrongdoing; and

2. To vote in support of further referrals of other ANC Councillors to the Ethics Committee, who have committed alleged acts of criminality.

Such cases of criminal wrongdoing represent the very worst violation of the trust that is places in elected officials by their constituents.

Such corrupt Councillors prey on the vulnerability of residents who have been deprived of housing by the very same party who presided over the City whilst chronically under-investing in the housing backlog.

I call upon the ANC do in opposition what they failed to do in government, to take a stand against corruption and not just pay lip service to the idea.